Optical waveguide feedthrough assembly

Abstract

An optical fiber feedthrough assembly includes a glass plug disposed in a recess of a feedthrough housing. The glass plug may define a large-diameter, cane-based, waveguide sealed within the recess in the housing and providing optical communication through the housing. Sealing occurs with respect to the housing at or around the glass plug of an optical waveguide element passing through the housing by braze sealing to the glass plug and/or embedding the glass plug in a polymer bonded with the plug to form a molded body that is sealed in the housing by, for example, compression mounting of the molded body or providing a sealing element around the molded body.

1. An optical waveguide element, comprising:
 at least one core; 
 at least one cladding layer surrounding the at least one core for light propagation in the optical waveguide element; and 
 at least one electrically conductive contact disposed on a surface of the waveguide element, wherein the at least one electrically conductive contact has a contour matching a surface of the at least one cladding layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The waveguide element of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive contact comprises a circumferential coaxial-type connector around the waveguide element. 
     
     
       3. The waveguide element of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive contact comprises one or more longitudinal strips on the surface of the waveguide element. 
     
     
       4. The waveguide element of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cladding layer comprises:
 an inner cladding layer surrounding the at least one core; and 
 an outer cladding layer surrounding the inner cladding layer, wherein the at least one electrically conductive contact is disposed on the outer cladding layer. 
 
     
     
       5. The waveguide element of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one electrically conductive contact comprises first and second electrical contacts disposed on the outer cladding layer and spaced around the waveguide element. 
     
     
       6. The waveguide element of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one core comprises first and second optical cores that permit separate propagation of light through the waveguide element. 
     
     
       7. The waveguide element of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one core comprises multiple optical cores and the at least one electrically conductive contact comprises multiple electrically conductive contacts. 
     
     
       8. A method of forming an optical waveguide element, comprising:
 providing at least one cladding layer surrounding at least one core for light propagation in the optical waveguide element; and 
 forming at least one electrically conductive contact disposed on a surface of the waveguide element, wherein the at least one electrically conductive contact has a contour matching a surface of the at least one cladding layer. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein forming the at least one electrically conductive contact comprises depositing the conductive contact after forming an outermost cladding layer of the optical waveguide element. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein forming the at least one electrically conductive contact comprises masking the outermost cladding layer of the optical waveguide element before depositing the at least one electrically conductive contact on the outermost cladding layer. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein forming the conductive contact comprises forming a circumferential coaxial-type connector around the waveguide element. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein forming the conductive contact comprises forming one or more longitudinal strips on the surface of the waveguide element. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein forming the at least one electrically conductive contact comprises depositing the conductive contact during deposition of an outermost cladding layer of the optical waveguide element. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one core comprises multiple optical cores and the at least one electrically conductive contact comprises multiple electrically conductive contacts. 
     
     
       15. An optical waveguide feedthrough assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a bore extending therethrough; 
 an optical fiber; and 
 a material selected to at least substantially fill a void space between the optical fiber and the bore of the housing, wherein the optical fiber maintains a particular nonzero curvature within the material. 
 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the curvature of the optical fiber is configured to prevent micro-bending of the fiber. 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the material is formed around the optical fiber to form a unit that is at least initially independent from the housing. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the housing compresses the material thereby sealing between the material and the bore. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the material comprises a polymer. 
     
     
       20. The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the material comprises polyetheretherketone (PEEK).